How to Prioritize TIME?

Time is important

Before you master the secret paradox of gaining time by spending more you need to understand the importance of time. Every time you actively chose not to do what matters most to you, is time not well spent. Remember that once time is lost, it can never be found again. For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness. When you find time, don’t just spend it. Use it!

Use time

Yes, use time ! Start doing small things. No matter how little time you have right now, you could have spent it many different ways. Even if it is only 2 minutes. In 2 minutes you can decide to start reading this article, call your parents, step out with your dog, take a deep breath, stretch, drink a glass of water, setup an appointment, check mail. Do the smallest thing. But that should be the greatest thing you can do right NOW! 

Focus on Now

There is really no limit to how many ways you could have spent your time right now. — Being _Agile

How you re-purpose time is important. My tennis game is cancelled this morning. I have time to spend. How I spend it is up to me! I could have chosen to go to Dunkin’ (yes they re-branded themselves as Dunkin’ !) and pretend to myself that I’m having a nice time frantically responding to social media posts! Such a waste of time ! Instead, I actively chose to write. And that is what I am doing now, Focusing on the present and figuring out the best thing I can do now !

This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it – Ralph Waldo Emerson

These days I learned to use Uber and Lyft more often. It allows me to make few calls and finish up some office work so when I reach home, I never need to even think of my day job. I can now do small things like, playing that game with my kid, making that phone call to a friend, Finish writing this article, learning a thing or two about shutter usage in photography, again there is no limit to the options !

Realize that now, in this moment of time, you are creating. You are creating your next moment. That is what’s real –Sara Paddison

What do you want?

When you focus on now, you can focus on what you really want. For this you need to start measuring success on your terms, not by others terms. No one can define your success but you ! If you continue to let others tell you what success is, you’ll never reach it. Do you really want a home bigger than all your friends? Do you really want a promotion or more salary at your Job? Do you really want a million followers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and every other social media ? Let me now rephrase the same questions. Is that all you really want? That’s it?! Well, there ends your imagination. 

Think beyond what others expect of you and think about what you really want and make a list. — Being Agile

 

Value others’ time!

Respect others time and know that it is of  as much value to them. Next time you make someone wait for whatever reason, question yourself — “Is there anyway (without sacrificing my three objectives) I can gift my time to this person so his or her time is well spent?”

 

The greatest gift you can give someone is your time because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back. This is a small trade you are willing to make because it just makes you Happy !

Small things matter

Every small thing you do still needs to satisfy your greater purpose of life. But each small thing should make you feel happy Always make time for things that make you feel happy to be alive. Small things matter

 

Start working towards getting that Dog your kid wanted ! Go for a stroll with them and play games with them. Hey, isn’t this healthier and more useful than running on a thread mill ? 🙂 

Teach your kid(s) a skill or two! Partner with them in an adventure of learning something every day. It could be fencing or Tennis or music or singing. Through your kid become the kid you once were.

Take Control

Take rest. Without rest you are not efficient. None of the above practices can be employed unless you rest. Sleep. Re-prioritize the time you are wasting on Social media arguing about things ! Intend to have a good nights sleep instead. Or use it to do that office work you skipped for a more important thing the other evening! Take control of your surroundings. Do not yield to those comments on social media. Do not yield to the urge of stupid irrational arguments. Focus on your three objectives and find out how to re-purpose the now towards your goals !

“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” Jim Rohn

 

References

While writing this article I got a call from my parents. I stopped and resumed after 1 hr. This is what I meant in Small things matter, “Always make time for things that make you feel happy to be alive.”— Life Lessons

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